This building is the most iconic building constructed under the direction of Cetra Ruddy. Though the ownership of the building has changed hands a few times before and after the 2008 recession, Cetra Ruddy was kept on as the architect and interior designer of the original North Tower and the South Tower. The facade of the South Tower was designed by BKSK which allowed for the unique opportunity to work with the client (developer), a facade designer and the conventional trades in architectural design. Most of the work I completed on the already completed structure of the North Tower and through all five phases of the South Tower which is still under construction.

Detail, craft, and scale—this building, a gatehouse to a tall, slender residential tower behind it, borrows from the best of the neighborhood. Situated on a quiet side street off Madison Square, this intimate building was designed to convey a sense of arriving home for building residents. The five-story façade takes its cues from the historically rich fabric of the block. Staggered vertical fins made of custom glazed terra cotta screen the spaces within, while also giving depth to the façade. The variegated hues of creamy glazing imbue warmth and distinction among its limestone-faced neighbors, moving and reflecting light in unique patterns throughout the day. These details and others, such as the travertine forecourt that leads to the building’s custom bronze and glass entrance doors, were carefully conceived to appeal to the human senses and enhance the ceremony of coming home.

"This little building borrows from the best of the neighborhood."

Joan Krevlin

New York has a rich architectural terra cotta heritage. This ceramic can be found on a plethora of historic buildings throughout the city, ranging from the iconic like Louis Sullivan’s Bayard-Condict Building and Cass Gilbert’s Woolworth Building to smaller-scale Queen Anne-style rowhouses in Park Slope and vibrantly glazed commercial structures along Coney Island Avenue. Of late, terra cotta has been experiencing a rebirth in contemporary architecture, thanks to the material’s inherent properties—specifically its malleability, infinite glazing options, environmental performance, and low toxicity.